Spinal traction apparatus

ABSTRACT

A spinal or cervical traction device for home use, having a harness for fitting around the body below at least in part the arms, or to the head, a hand operable winch means associated with said harness, and a connector attached to said winch for engagement with a fitting secured in an elevated position, e.g. to a door lintel.

United States Patent 11 1 Taylor 1 1 Sept. 18, 1973 [54] SPINAL TRACTON APPARATUS FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS [76] lnvenm" Eric Tw 20 Ridgeway 542,278 4/1956 ltaly 128 75 Ave., Rhyl Fhntsh1re, North Wales [22] Filed: 101 1971 Primary Examiner-Lawrence W. Trapp [21] Appl. No.: 206,847 Attorney-Linton & Linton Foreign Application Prioriy Data Dec. 22, 1970 Great Britain 60,759/70 A spinal or cervical traction device for home use, hav- [52] U.S. Cl. 128/75 ing a rne f r fi ing around the body below at least [51] Int. Cl A6lh 1/02 in p r h m or to h h a h n operable winch [58] Field of Search 128/71, 75, 84 means associated with Said h and a connector attached to said winch for engagement with a fitting se- [56] References Cit d cured in an elevated position, e.g. to a door lintel.

UNITED sTATEs PATENTS 2 Cl 4 D F 1,080,297 12/1913 Pitts et al. 128/75 ux PATENTED SEP] 8 I973 sum 1 or 5 PATENTED SEPI 8|973 SHEET 2 0F 3 PATENTED 3.759.255

SHEET 3 [1F 3 SPINAL TRACTION APPARATUS This invention relates to apparatus for use in providing spinal or cervical traction, for example as is necessary at times in the case of persons who suffer from degenerative conditions of the spine, so-called slipped discs, or the like, to alleviate pain and reduce the condition, and also for use as a keep-fit and posture improving device.

Traction apparatus as conventionally employed in hospitals and clinics is usually cumbersome and expensive and necessitates the employment of skilled personnel.

The present invention has for its object to provide a simple and relatively inexpensive device or appliance which can be used beneficially for the purposes of spinal traction in the home without the need for an operator to be present and which under appropriate supervision may be employed to impart cervical traction.

Broadly, according to the invention, and in one mode of embodiment, a spinal or cervical traction device or appliance comprises a harness or sling for fitting around the body below, at least in part, the arms, or to the head, a hand operable winch means associated with said harness, and a hook or eye or other connector attached to said winch for engagement with a hook or eye fitting secured in an elevated position, e.g. to a door lintel.

The winch comprises a housing incorporating hand operable worm gears arranged so as to drive a drum on which is connected and may be wound a load-bearing strap or webbing, the free end of said strap or webbing having attached thereto a hook or eye or other connector.

The harness or sling may comprise a simple loop of a suitably padded strap or webbing, with or without an intercostal or like belt, said strap or webbing having fastener means at each end for attaching same releasably to the winch housing.

Thus, by attaching the hook or eye of the winch strap to an elevated hook, and positioning the sling around the body below the arms, a user can raise him or herself clear or almost clear of the floor by operating the winch handle. The gear ratio of the winch preferably is such that only a relatively light pressure on the handle is necessary to operate same.

Alternatively said winch may be attached to a harness for fitting to the head and below the chin for producing more specifically cervical traction. In this instance the apparatus is preferably operated by a trained person and not used by the person requiring treatment.

If desired, a collapsible tripod or other support may be provided embodying attachment means for the winch hook.

The attached drawings illustrate, by way of example only and not limitation, embodiment of the invention.

In said drawings:

FIG. 1 is a front elevation, and

FIG. 2 is a side elevation of a spinal traction device or appliance according to the invention.

FIG. 3 is a front view of a harness suitable for attachment to the head for producing traction on the neck and upper part of the spine, and

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary side elevation looking in the direction of the arrow in FIG. 3.

Referring to said drawings, and first to FIGS. 1 and 2 the letter A generally denotes a body harness or slign, and B a winch device attached to said harness or sling.

The body harness or sling A comprises a flexible strap lit), e.g. a length of webbing or leather strapping which, for the major part of its length, is covered by a resilient padding HI. Each and of the member It) has attached thereto a buckle 12 having a keyhole opening l3 whereby said buckles can be detachably engaged with studs 14 (FIG. 2) provided one on each of two opposite sides of a housing R5 of the winch device B.

Said winch device B comprises a drum (not shown) to which is connected and on which may be wound a flexible connector 16 the free end whereof has attached thereto a link 17. Said link 17 is adapted to be releasably engaged with a hook bracket 18 screwed (in this instance) to a door lintel C.

The winch B is manually operable by means of a cranked handle 2%.

Said winch comprises a worm, driven by the handle 2t), which is in mesh with a worm-wheel keyed to the drum carrying the flexible connector 16. This arrangement obviates the need for providing a locking device to prevent back-running of the winch under the weight of a person being treated. Further, such an arrangement enables the production of a tractive force which is infinitely variable up to the weight of the person being treated.

Referring now to FIGS. 3 and d, these illustrate a head harness suitable for use in cases where the neck and upper spinal parts require to be subjected to traction. In this instance flexible members 10 are attached to the winch as before described and to buckles 30, 30 attached one to each end of a stretcher bar 31. Each of said buckles 30 is formed with a hook 32 whereto are secured the ends of a pair of slings 33, 34. The sling 33 is formed so as to engage below the chin a person to be harness for fitting below and supporting a portion of a patient, a housing, means for detachably connecting said harness to said housing for being suspended therebelow, a drum rotatably mounted in said housing, a worm-wheel keyed to said drum, a worm meshing with said worm-wheel, a handle extending thrugh said housing and connected to said worm for manually driving the same, a load-bearing flexible connector attached at one end to said drum for being wound thereon and extending from said housing, a link attached to the other end of said connector and means for detachably supporting said link in an elevated position.

2. A spinal or cervical traction device as claimed in claim 1 wherein said harness consists of a loop of a pad ded strap, fasteners at each end of said strap and studs on opposite sides of said housing detachably connected to said studs. 

1. A spinal or cervical traction device comprising a harness for fitting below and supporting a portion of a patient, a housing, means for detachably connecting said harness to said housing for being suspended therebelow, a drum rotatably mounted in said housing, a worm-wheel keyed to said drum, a worm meshing with said worm-wheel, a handle extending thrugh said housing and connected to said worm for manually driving the same, a loadbearing flexible connector attached at one end to said drum for being wound thereon and extending from said housing, a link attached to the other end of said connector and means for detachably supporting said link in an elevated position.
 2. A spinal or cervical traction device as claimed in claim 1 wherein said harness consists of a loop of a padded strap, fasteners at each end of said strap and studs on opposite sides of said housing detachably connected to said studs. 